New CEO Takes Over at Pan Ocean
South Korean shipping company Pan Ocean announced that Joong Ho Ahn is newly appointed as a Chief Executive Officer with effect from the date of the Board of Directors Meeting on March 30…
Opinion: COVID-19, Climate Change ... & Changing the World, Together
![Asbjørn Halsebakke, Product Manager, Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/bjrn-halsebakke-product-manager-yaskawa-111474.jpg)
Our planet is facing its greatest challenge, and it’s not coronavirus. Asbjørn Halsebakke, Product Manager, Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch, ponders how greater political action could help the maritime industry meet its most ambitious environmental goals.Why hasn’t the climate crisis elicited the same urgent response from global governments as the corona pandemic? When confronted with the terrible threat of viral spread…
Laden LNG Tanker Bound for China is First from US Since March 2019
A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker which loaded a cargo from the United States is currently heading to China, the first shipment since March 2019, according to…
Shell to Exit Lake Charles LNG Project
Royal Dutch Shell said on Monday it will exit the Lake Charles liquefied natural gas export project in Louisiana, citing the plunge in oil prices due to the coronavirus…
Oil Tanker Rates Double
![© Vladamir / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/vladamir-adobe-stock-111466.jpg)
Supertanker freight rates are on the rise for a second time this month as producers, refiners and traders scramble to secure ships to transport crude or store a fast-growing global glut of oil, industry sources said.Freight rates for very large crude-oil carriers (VLCC) along the Middle East Gulf to China route were assessed at about $180,000 a day on Monday, up from some $125,000 on Friday and a weekly low of about $90…
Cunard Extends Suspension of Cruises to May 15
![(File photo: Cunard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-cunard-111465.jpg)
Carnival Corp’s luxury cruise ships operator Cunard said on Monday it would extend the suspension of all voyages by a month to May 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic.Carnival, also the operator of two coronavirus-stricken Princess cruises, has already temporarily suspended several of its ships due to concerns over the rapidly spreading COVID-19 crisis earlier this month.“The impact of COVID-19 is affecting personal routines and businesses as well as placing significant travel restrictions around
Yamal LNG Resumes Loading Operations in Norway
![(File photo: Novatek)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-novatek-111463.jpg)
Yamal LNG, controlled by Russia's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Novatek, is resuming ship-to-ship transfers in Norway, Novatek said on Monday, after plans to shift the operations to Russia fell through due to coronavirus.Novatek suspended transfers in Norway in June last year due to what it termed "pressure from the West".According to Refinitiv Eikon data, the Arc7 tanker Vladimir Vize is due to arrive at the Norwegian Arctic port of Honningsvag on April 1…
Incat Crowther to Design Patrol Vessel for Queensland
![Photo: Incat Crowther](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-incat-crowther-111456.jpg)
Incat Crowther reports it has been chosen to design an aluminum patrol vessel for Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science. The design was put to construction tender and Norman R Wright and Sons has been selected to build the vessel.The Incat Crowther 17 design was selected for the project based on specific criteria to deliver a high service delivery capacity for the operation, the designer said.
Improving Oily Water Separators
![© J G Ray / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/j-g-ray-adobe-stock-111459.jpeg)
Oily water separators (OWS) have been a common fixture of a ship’s machinery space for many decades. With the amount of experience, research and legislation that has gone into them, it would be easy to think that their use would almost be hassle free. However, going by the amount of OWS violations still being recorded by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) it is evident that many seafarers are still encountering problems while operating them.
What Will COVID-19 Mean for US Offshore Wind?
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What will COVID-19 mean for the offshore wind industry? An industry not yet spinning on its own.Epitomized by the roller coaster ride that defined the stock market over the last few weeks, unpredictability has emerged as one of the few certainties of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Every industry has seen the effects of the pandemic, from hospitality, to travel, and even to the renewable energy sector.
Wärtsilä Adds Gate Rudders to Its Propulsion Lineup
![This Shigenobu vessel has been fitted with the gate rudder for evaluation purposes. (Photo: Yamanaka shipbuilding)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/this-shigenobu-vessel-has-been-111447.jpg)
Wärtsilä announced it will include Japanese-designed gate rudders as part of it propulsion offering for newbuild vessels and retrofit.The Finnish-based firm said it signed a license and cooperation agreement with Kuribayashi Steamship Co for future development, sales and servicing of the gate rudders. As an authorized license holder and partner, Wärtsilä intends to fully integrate gate rudders within its propulsion product designs for all vessel classes and focus on global markets outside Japan.
Ukraine Traders Agree Wheat Export Curb to Protect Bread Prices
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Ukraine's biggest grain traders agreed on Monday to an economy ministry proposal to limit wheat exports to 20.2 million tonnes in the 2019/20 season to avoid a rise in domestic bread prices.Although Ukraine is a major grain exporter and its harvest largely exceeds domestic consumption, the coronavirus pandemic has led some countries to consider feed export restrictions.Ukrainian bakers and millers…
Coronavirus-hit Ship Approved to Pass Through Panama Canal
![The Panama Canal facilitated this Sunday the transit of Holland America's MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam cruise ships (Photo: Panama Canal Authority)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/the-panama-canal-facilitated-this-111433.jpg)
A cruise ship stuck off Panama’s Pacific coast after four passengers died and more than 130 others developed influenza-like symptoms, including at least two with the coronavirus, will be allowed to proceed through the Panama Canal, the government said on Saturday.Holland America Line’s 238-meter (781-foot) MS Zaandam vessel can now continue its trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but Panama’s government…
USNS Comfort Departs for New York
![President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at Naval Station Norfolk, March 28 during his visit to see off the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20). (U.S. Navy photo by Mike DiMestico)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/president-donald-j-trump-delivers-111432.jpg)
U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Norfolk, Va. Saturday for New York City in support of the COVID-19 response efforts.The Military Sealift Command ship will serve as a referral hospital for patients not infected with COVID-19, providing a full spectrum of medical care to include general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults, while allowing shore-based civilian hospitals…
Nigeria Bans Ships Without Thermal Screening Facilities
![© Liaurinko/AdobeStock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/liaurinkoadobestock-111430.jpeg)
As the world grapples with best practices to contain the spread of the current coronavirus, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, said the agency has developed guidance to support ships that operate in the Nigerian maritime domain, including banning all vessels without thermal screening facilities from operating in Nigerian waters.“These…
Nigeria Announces Offshore Oil Worker Restrictions to Battle Coronavirus
![© Jan/AdobeStock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/janadobestock-111429.jpeg)
Nigeria's petroleum regulator has ordered oil and gas companies to reduce their offshore workforce and move to 28-day staff rotations as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to a circular seen by Reuters.Health experts fear a widespread outbreak in Africa's most populous country, which has about 200 million inhabitants, and the country is keen to protect oil production…
Empty Tankers Depart Venezuela; Sanctions Cancel Cargo
![© TexBr/AdobeStock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/texbradobestock-111428.jpeg)
Three large crude carriers (VLCCs) chartered by units of Russian oil major Rosneft to transport Venezuelan oil left Caribbean waters empty on Saturday after the cargoes were canceled due to sanctions, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and a document from Venezuelan state-run oil firm PDVSA.The vessels - which would jointly export some 5.7 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude to Asia - had waited for weeks near Venezuelan waters to load…
Four Passengers Die on Cruise Ship with Coronavirus Outbreak
![Zaandam (Photo: Holland America Line)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/zaandam-photo-holland-america-line-111426.jpg)
Four passengers have died on board the MS Zaandam, a cruise ship currently off the coast of Panama with dozens of guests suffering from influenza-like symptoms, at least two of whom have coronavirus, the vessel's operator said on Friday.Zaandam had been on a South American cruise that departed Argentina on March 7 and had been scheduled to end in San Antonio, Chile on March 21.
USNS Mercy Arrives in Los Angeles
![USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrives in Los Angeles March 27. (U.S. Navy photo by David Mora Jr.)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/usns-mercy-tah-19-arrives-111425.jpg)
U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in Los Angeles, Friday to support the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts.While in Los Angeles, the ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals, and will provide a full spectrum of medical care to include general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults. This will allow local…
Dredgers Make Way for USNS Comfort in New York
![USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) takes on fuel and supplies at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. in preparation to deploy to New York in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jim Kohler)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/usns-comfort-tah-20-takes-111424.jpg)
Dredgers are expediting operations in New York to make way for the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort, which will dock in the epicenter of America's COVID-19 outbreak to assist hospitals that become overrun by the pandemic.Dredging contractor Donjon Marine Co., Inc. was contacted last week and asked to begin dredging Manhattan Cruise Terminal’s Berth 4 in anticipation of the arrival of the ship,…